Los Angeles Chargers sign TE David Njoku

David Njoku's one-year, $3M signing earns an A− Contract Value Index (CVI), a shrewd depth acquisition that maximizes efficiency on a tight budget. At a tight end position where depth tends to command inflated salaries, a $3M AAV deal for a former starter represents above-market value — you're getting proven NFL experience at replacement-level cost, which is precisely how playoff-contending rosters build depth without cap hemorrhage. The Los Angeles Chargers, sitting at 11−6 and holding the seventh seed heading into the offseason, made a calculated move to bolster their pass-catching unit without committing substantial future resources or guaranteed money; this is exactly the kind of low-risk, high-floor addition that works in a one-year window. Njoku's value hinges entirely on healthy availability and role definition — he's not being asked to carry a receiving corps, but rather to provide capable pass-game options and red-zone flexibility at a cost that won't constrain the team's ability to address other roster gaps. The CVI reflects smart contract structuring: short-term, low AAV, and zero long-term commitment, which protects the Chargers' cap flexibility while the organization evaluates its competitive window. This deal exemplifies the kind of surgical offseason move that separates disciplined front offices from those that overpay for veteran depth.